Plumbers, fitters, tinners & HVAC- WHAT?

Richard Miller_2

thanks

Don in IA

Who should be doing what.

Hi all,

Got some laughs and some pet peeves "petted" from reading the previous posts about plumbers and their "abilities". They got me thinking about what most lay people call me and how it really burns me. NO! I am not a plumber! First off I do not have any license that would allow me to be a plumber. Second, just because I happen to work with pipe does not a plumber make. And third, I am a Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technician. The fact that I have to deal with water supplies and wastes from the aformentioned equipements, makes me knowledgable about plumbing, but a long way from being a true licensed and code knowing real plumber. And the last,to call me a plumber insults true plumbers. He doesn't want to be called something he isn't either! There is more to it than making sure "it" goes downhill!

Some examples if anyone is still reading.

During my apprenticeship(member of the UA), my straightline fitter classmates would argue that we had too much refrigeration and heating classes. They wanted welding and fitting classes. The sad fact was we belong to a local that represents plumbers, steamfitters, refrigeration fitters and fitters.(still not sure about all of the classifications). I told them I didn't appreciate all the welding we had to do either. My opinion one guy can't know or do it all. I told them that if I needed welding done when doing my hvac-r job that I would bring them in for the job they specialize in, since I couldn't weld to save my life and I wanted to specialize in my "trade".

I have had to redo condensate piping on A/C units because the licensed plumbers in our shop did them wrong. I have had to show plumbers how to hook up ice machines(mainly water cooled)because they don't look at them as plumbing and get the in out and out in. Or don't vent the drain because it's just an ice machine.

Just today I saw a plumber expect the inspecter to tell him how far the 3-hole sink should be from the hand wash sink. Here I go assuming but isn't that in the code book? After that I figured the plumber probably wasn't licensed or a newbie that maybe shouldn't be by himself?

Also I have worked with plumbers in my shop that are willing to stop and read the instructions on things they have never dealt with and will acknowledge that they have no clue about A/C systems and are more that happy to leave that to me. As I am to leave the toilet and urinal installs to them.

As the plumbing instructer said in my piping math class, we are in the piping trade. It behoove us to know what each one does, plumber, fitter, whatever. We will have to work together. When you do HVAC-R work you need to be able to do a little of everything, but specialize in that one thing(hvac-r).Same with plumbers, tinners whatever.

By the way, what is ductwork but pipe for air!
Don't let the consumer paint you with thier big paint brush. Educate them on your specialty!

If I have offended, I apologize it is late and I should be in bed. Which would also explain if any of the above doesn't make sense.

Don in IA

Steamhead

That was good, Don

I've always said one person can't be an expert in everything. You just said the same thing in a different way.

That's one reason I keep a service contract on my oil burner.

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